Vera's 2nd Eczema Flare (Dec 2015)

We enjoyed the December holidays, but sadly, it also marked Vera’s second eczema flare — a full-force return after a year and a half.

It began as rashes behind her knees during our Bangkok trip. I blamed the heat, and myself, for letting her nibble on almost everything we were eating — including sugary desserts. She started scratching when our eyes were off her, and eventually, tiny fluid-filled blisters formed. Her skin looked inflamed, thickened, and red.

This was Vera's bad flare during her babyhood. The steroids did not worked then and she was lucky to receive Calecim's Multi-action cream which worked like wonder in repairing her skin. 

We landed four days later and had to rush her to the doctor before a cruise trip. The GP diagnosed eczema and prescribed steroids again. I was panicking because I had just a tiny bit of Calecim left! Huge thanks to my friend, Yanti, for passing me her tub. The steroids helped temporarily, but as always, the flare returned. I used a minimal amount to get through the trip.

The condition worsened post-cruise. Vera was left unattended during a nap, and she scratched herself bloody. I was shocked to find open wounds. Cleaning them brought me to tears. I wished I could take her place — even a tiny itchy patch on my finger drives me mad, let alone her entire leg. The scabs turned pus-filled and infected. Rashes also appeared on her back and quickly spread. Nights became sleepless again as she scratched constantly. We were always on standby to pull her hands away and comfort her. 

I had brought her to four doctors. By the fourth, I asked for an antibiotic cream to speed up healing.

It is not just the legs which were affected. The scabs on her legs enlarged with pus surrounding it. It was badly infected after she scratched with her nails and bacteria got in when the skin broke. The small area behind her back started with rashes too. To my horror, the area widen and started spreading. Sleepless nights kicked in for she scratched day and night until I felt that could it had became a habit to scratch ? We were all on standby mode at night, the moment she started to scratch, we have to pull her hands away and help her to soothe the itch.

Other thoughts were running through my mind. Is this really eczema ? I have actually brought her to see a doctor 4 times ! The fourth time, I was at wits end, I asked the doctor for anti-biotics cream to clear the infected scabs fast.

Back in Singapore, I brought her to Ma Guang TCM, highly recommended for eczema. The physician diagnosed her as having too much internal "heat." Her diagnosis was Vera's body was too "heaty" which resulted in the flare. She noticed that Vera was also constantly moving all the while during the consultation. Hence, she asked if she sleeps well at night. I told her that Vera loves to rotate like a clock on the bed and loves to sleep having the upper half of her body on the bed while her leg dangle by the side of the bed. She told me that these are tell tale signs that Vera was trying to "release" the heat from her body. I was given a list of acid forming food and "heaty" fruits to avoid

Food to Avoid (According to TCM):

• Dairy (milk, cheese, butter)

• Fish without scales (pomfret, stingray, cod)

• Chicken & eggs

• Heaty fruits (durian, mango, grapes, these are also fruits with high level of sugar)

• Veg/fruits with sap (yam, corn)

• Sugar & sweetened drinks

• Beef, mutton, shellfish

• Fruit juices (give whole fruits instead)

• Herbs (even red dates and wolfberries)

• Fried food

During detox, flare-ups may worsen as toxins purge through:

• Liver/bowels (more foul smelling stools)

• Kidneys (dark and strong smelling urine)

• Lungs (bad breath)

• Skin (outbreaks)

I also switched Vera from formula to Isomil (soy). Formula milk is acidic and sugary — both eczema triggers. I also switched Vera from formula to Isomil (soy). Formula milk is acidic and sugary — both eczema triggers. She encouraged a greater intake of alkaline-forming foods such as vegetables and fruits. From what I understand, mushrooms, corn and other foods that are hard to digest should also be avoided too.

On top of the TCM advice, I’ve gained additional knowledge over these two years of my oiling journey. It’s not just about essential oils and their benefits—diet and lifestyle also play a significant role in overall health. Here are some other factors that may put stress on the skin:

- Household cleaners or detergents that are heavily loaded with chemicals

- Synthetic, scented lotions or perfumes 

-Drying soaps

- A stressful lifestyle

I completely cut out formula milk for Vera and switched her to soy milk for the time being. She has been taking Isomil for the past two months. Why cut out formula milk? In general, milk is acidic, and formula milk tends to be heavily loaded with sugar (which explains the sweet taste). Eczema flare-ups are often linked to high acid levels in the body. Additionally, many young children are unable to properly break down a protein called A1-casein found in most formula milk, which can trigger inflammation and worsen skin conditions like eczema. It’s not just Western sources that say sugar and dairy can aggravate eczema—when even the TCM doctor echoed the same advice, I felt it was worth believing.

Oiling for Liver Support

To support Vera’s liver health, I apply essential oils under her feet on the liver vitaflex point:

Helichrysum: Known for its blood-cleansing properties, it helps detoxify and stimulate liver cell function.

JuvaFlex: A blend specifically formulated to assist the body in cleansing the liver.

DIY Blend for Dry Patches:

2 oz Coconut Oil (AgriLife Organic)

15 drops Lavender

15 drops Melrose

15 drops Frankincense

Instructions:

Apply this blend only on healed skin. Always dilute essential oils properly before use and encourage increased water intake to support detoxification.

I actually halved the DIY blend recipe to try it out first, and if you’re worried about the strong smell of coconut oil, don’t be — this blend smells quite pleasant. Vera’s skin texture has improved with consistent application. Just a reminder: I only apply this blend on skin that has fully healed, never on open wounds. Some young children can be sensitive to essential oils, so always heavily dilute before use. Also, whenever using essential oils on the body, make sure to drink plenty of fluids to support detoxification.

Recommended Creams and Shower Gels

Thanks to some mummies in my oiling group chat who generously shared their experiences, here are some recommended skincare products for little ones:

Cetaphil Restoraderm (skin restoring body wash and moisturizer, using it still after so many years for maintenance)

Sebamed 

Ceradan

AI Physiogel

CeraVe

I rotate between these depending on availability and what suits Vera’s skin best.

- Aveeno, Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream

Photo Credit : Mummy Pram

*A Note on Creams & Allergies

Please keep in mind that some creams may contain ingredients that can trigger allergic reactions, especially in children with sensitive skin. It's always best to do a patch test first — apply a small amount on a small area of skin and observe for any reaction before using it more widely. What works well for one child might not work for another, as each child’s skin is unique.

Calecim® Multi-Action Cream

This has been one of our key products in managing Vera’s skin recovery. You can order the regular version online at www.calecim.com.

If you're looking for the stronger 50% version, which I personally used and found effective, I was able to purchase it over the counter after contacting Calecim’s staff directly. They were very helpful in guiding me through the process.

📞 Tip: Be sure to call the clinic in advance to check stock availability before making a trip down.

HK HO Women & Fertility clinic Pte Ltd
Mount Alvernia Medical Centre
820 Thomson Road
#02-06/07
Singapore 574623
Tel : 63538833

Just a Personal Recommendation, please note that I do not earn any commission from referring others to this clinic. It’s simply one of the few places that stocks the 50% version of Calecim, which isn’t available on their official website. Since I had used it on Vera previously with good results, I informed the clinic that a consultation wasn’t necessary.

This version of the cream is more expensive than the standard one — I paid $299.60 (inclusive of GST). I know it’s on the pricier side, but Don supported the purchase, and for us, it was worth it if it could truly help Vera’s condition.

Vera's Recovery Journey – 1.5 Months In

This was Vera’s condition after 1.5 months of recovery. I brought her to her paediatrician for her overdue vaccination, and when he saw the scab scars, he mentioned that they resembled impetigo — a contagious skin infection that is quite common among children. It typically starts as a red, itchy patch of skin, which was exactly how Vera’s condition began. So, perhaps it really was impetigo after all?

Vera had been taking TCM herbal powder during this period, and we simply had to be patient with the healing process. There were no quick fixes — just time, care, and consistency.



Her healing folds

This is the name and location of the physician:
Li Ling (Senior Physician)
Blk 279 Bishan St 24 #01-44
Singapore 570279
Tel : 64597181

* Do note that she is only in Bishan Clinic on Mondays.

Updated on 1/2/2016 :
This is another Physician recommended by Mummy Zoe. Thank you !

Photo Credit to Mummy Zoe

Photo Credit to Mummy Zoe

Updated on 3/2/2016:

If the itching becomes uncontrollable, Zyrtec can help. Thank you, Mummy Michelle, for the reminder — I honestly don’t know why Zyrtec didn’t come to mind when Vera was scratching so frantically!

Flaxseed oil also helps soothe nighttime itching — a tip shared by Mummy Serene, whose boys have benefited from it. Thank you for sharing!

I’ll continue to update this post whenever I come across more helpful information or tips for managing eczema. I truly hope this post has been useful for those of you who are struggling with this skin condition. Meanwhile, please feel free to share what has worked for you too — and don’t forget to keep the skin well-moisturized!

Thank you for reading and if you would like to stay tune for future updates, do follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram !